Welcome! You are viewing an archived issue of SaskSecrets, Tourism Saskatchewan's Online Newsletter, from April 2014. To read the current issue of SaskSecrets, click here.

Land Before Time in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is rich in paleontological discoveries: Scotty the Tyrannosaurus rex, found near Eastend; Big Bert, the 5.6-metre (19-foot) marine predator (Terminonaris robusta) uncovered along the banks of the Carrot River; Triceratops and other prehistoric species, unearthed in Grasslands National Park. Find out more about the strange creatures that roamed Saskatchewan millions of years ago by visiting these and other sites.

T.rex Discovery Centre, EastendVisit the home of “Scotty,” Canada’s most complete T.rex skeleton. Through the summer months, the facility offers hands-on learning activities for the whole family. Add the T.rex Discovery Centre to your summer itinerary.

Ancient Echoes Interpretive Centre, HerschelAs part of the Great Canadian Fossil Trail, the area around Herschel is believed to have once been a tidal pool. Fossilized fish bones, shark teeth, clams, prehistoric shellfish and plesiosaurs have been found in the area. Check out the Paleo Room at Ancient Echoes or book a tour to view a dig site.

Royal Saskatchewan Museum, ReginaStep back in time at the RSM’s Earth Science Gallery. Here you can learn about the formation of Saskatchewan, the ancient seas that covered the province and dinosaurs that roamed our land during the Cretaceous period.

Grasslands National Park, East BlockIn the summer months, you can fossil-hunt on your own in the East Block of Grasslands National Park. If you know what to look for, you might discover the remains of a Triceratops or Edmontosaurus saskatchewanensis. But if you would rather be part of an expert-led expedition, head to the park in August and search for fossils with McGill University paleontologists.

Pasquia Paleontological Site, near Carrot RiverFound embedded in the shale along the Carrot River, a crocodilian fossil nicknamed Big Bert is a significant find dating back 92 million years ago. Visit the Dickson Hardie Interpretive Centre at Pasquia Regional Park to see a life-sized skeleton replica and learn more about the other creatures found in the area.